If you looked around in the large, well-lit, well decorated Asgardian first-year classroom, you would not see an eager face at first. It was a beautiful day, and each six year old Aesir could feel the sunlight stream from the glassless windows. Everyone of them wished to do anything- practice fighting, gather fruit, help the horses, run in the fields, sneak to the Rainbow Bridge, mend clothes, even, anything but stay inside and learn about the Nine Realms of Yggsdrasill! The boys had to be reminded to not slouch, the girls to stop passing notes of parchment. Everyone. Was. Bored. NO ONE CARED ABOUT SVARTALHIEM!
Of course, if you looked closer, in the corner furthest from the door, but closest to a window, you would see one attentive face. The child's blue-green eyes where sparkling in interest. Her back was straight, her eyes forward, her long, straight black hair in place, her green dress and gold necklace nice and sleek, not strewn about- she actually cared. She was in the corner, because no one trusted her; like the boy in the red shirt as well as the gold-haired girl next to the eager child, no other child was supposed to talk to her, because their parents had told them not to. Daughters of Loki where not to be trusted.
But Ljota didn't care. She wasn't there for those idiots- she was there to learn. Well, she was really there because Odin, or the Allfather, as she called him in public as her teachers chided, commanded she go to school with other children; that her father wouldn't be the one to teach her at home. She knew why, of course, but, once again, she didn't care. She loved her Vater, as she called him, and nothing would change that.
Anyway, she loved to learn of the Nine Realms. They had gone over Midgard the week before, and she had flying marks on that particular oral test. Everyone else called her a cheater, but she reminded them that it wasn't her fault she was half Midgardian, and that if they could get off their lazy bums and study more, then they wouldn't be complaining. And she was six. She had her father's quick and sharp tongue already.
Svartalhim wasn't as interesting as the planet of her birth, but it was still worth listening to, she thought. In fact, they were just wrapping up on that lesson. It was time for a new Realm today. She knew which it would be- they had gone through all seven(9- minus Asgard, minus one more realm, do the math, mortal), so she knew the next words coming.
"Now," the teacher, Lehrer Hvall said, grabbing another piece of parchment, and brushing away the sandy blond hair that had fallen in front of his eyes.
"Sit up, Rith, how many times must I tell you?"
"Yes, Lehrer..."
"Now, we continue on to the last Realm. I am sure you know a little of this people. Our sworn enemies, the most barbaric... er, rather, the most primitive," Hvall said, trying to be professional, especially when he remembered present company, "And the... oh, well, you know them. The Jotun, the Frost Giants of Jotunheim." he said, chuckling.
Ljota smiled- she knew she wasn't supposed to be proud of being a Frost Giantess, even Vater wasn't, but she was a child- could she help it?
However, the other children didn't think the same way. They had been taught the Frost Giants where monsters- they where in the stories that where told on scary nights, when Fenrir was howling and it was down pouring. The Frost Giants where added into stories when children disobeyed their parents, they where the boggy men of Asgard. Each and every child whipped around and stared at Ljota, whose face slowly got longer. She was no longer smiling, her eyes where no longer eager. As much as she knew she would get criticism, she still hated it. She had but one friend in all of Asgard- her father. And he was not here. She clenched her fist.
"Class. Class! Attention, please!" Hvall said, at least kind enough to see how uncomfortable Ljota was. He pushed up his spectacles, and continued the lesson.
"Right. Now, who knows of the leader of the Jotenhiem?" he asked. Probably not such a great question, giving the circumstances. Ljota raised her hand high, not able to contain herself. Hvall sighed, knowing this wouldn't go well, but called on her anyway.
"Yes, Ljota?"
"Laufey," she said with all confidence.
"Yes, that is correct. Laufey was the leader of the Jotenhiem-"
"But the All father was still able to get that traitor in control again when he awoke from his Odinsleep years ago, right?" an eager girl in the front said.
"Er, yes. Now-"
"If it weren't for the other traitor, it wouldn't have happened..." another boy mumbled.
"That's not on subject. Do not speak if you aren't called upon-"
"But it's true! If Loki didn't let Laufey in, the All father wouldn't have had to defeat him in the first place!"
"Actually, Vater was the one who blasted Laufey off of the All father," Ljota said quietly.
Once again, the whole class turned on her again. She was angry- they had called her father a traitor again in class, as if they didn't bully her with the title enough. She knew it was true, but they didn't have to ruin the lesson like that!
"Be quite, Ljota! Or, shall you cry because we're talking about the defeat of your real grandfather?" the boy next to her said. The entire class laughed then. She had tears in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall- "Do not let them see that they are hurting you. Then you are the one who wins in the end. You can plan their demise later," her father had said. It sounded pretty good right now.
"Enough, children! Now pay attention, or I shall speak to all of your parents in person!" Hvall yelled.
They snapped their heads back to attention.
After lessons, they where let out into the beautiful day. Ljota was the last one to walk out, carrying her books in her arms- she had forgotten to ask Vater to get her a bag. He forgot about those things sometimes, being the only one raising her, and a man. She walked down the hall, onto the court, and past the door without incident. But when she got to the small courtyard near the ally she used to get into the Palace(Loki was still forced to stay there, as was she.), three Asgardian boys cornered her. They where her age, six, but they where much taller.
"Hello, Jotun!" one said, knocking her books out of her hands.
"What's this?" another in a blue shirt and black trousers asked, picking up her favorite leisure reading book that she was just figuring out.
"This is from Midgard!" he said, laughing. "Harry Potter and the Philosipher's Stone?" he read slowly. His father was a scholar, Ljota guessed, because not all children of Asgard could read Midgardian languages.
"This is in that language known as German! Is that where your mother is from, mortal?" he teased, holding the book out of her reach. Ljota was angry again- her mother was from Germany, which is why she read German translations- her father insisted on it for some reasons.
"Give it back!" she said, reaching for it, but a third boy blocked her.
"Why, mortal? Miss your mother? Bet your Loki didn't really love her!" he said, taking the book from his friend and holding it higher.
"Shut up! I am not mortal, I shall live as long as both of you! Give me the book back!" Ljota screamed, reaching for it, her precious gem from Midgard. The other boys where kicking her school parchment and books, but she didn't care- she just wanted her Harry Potter back!
She reached for it again, very angry. One of the boys had hit her in the face in the skirmish- that was accidental, he would say latter, even young boys knew it was dishonorable to hit a female. But Ljota was still mad, frustrated. She grabbed at the book again, grabbed at the boy's hand now. He yelled, and dropped the book.
As she had dropped it, as she had touched him, she hadn't noticed, but her hand had turned blue. His hand was now iced over, like frosty-grass in early spring. The only difference was, that Joten ice is excruciatingly painful, so frozen it burns the skin. He yelled loudly, and adults started to come towards them. The other boys where now frightened of Ljota.
"Monster! Go away! Someone, help, someone catch the Jotun! Loki's daughter has gone evil!"
Ljota was crying now- she didn't mean to hurt the boy! It was an accident, she didn't even know she could do any of that! She never thought she could have her father's magic, but this was worse- she had his curse. As the crowd came in, she grabbed her book, and ran for the palace.
She ran as fast as her dress and her small legs would allow. She took the secret(and illegal) tunnels and passages her father had taught her, because she did not want to be seen by any Asgardians that would reject her. No one could see her. She was a monster now, and monsters where always hurt or hunted.
She finally reached her father's personal chamber. She would have run straight in, but she heard talking. Not only her father's soothing, deep, husky voice, but another voice- a woman's. It was not Lady Sif giving him a lecture. It was a heated discussion, but if it wasn't Sif, who was it, Ljota wondered.
She waited outside of his chamber door, barely breathing.
POV LOKI
A half hour earlier.
Something. Give me something to do. I cannot just be hidden in my room, waiting for Thor or another oaf of Odin's to make me go on a quest. Walking around like a guard, this, frankly BORING form is satisfying for a small time, but do not expect me to be happy with it.
I walked through the far-too-shiny, far too faked streets of Asgard. It would have been preferable to perhaps spend some time with Ljota, but even certain rules had to be obeyed- when convenient. It was convenient at the moment. The apple-stands, the people, fake or not, they all are asking to be fooled, to be tricked, something fun, for me at least. Why did everyone have to take everything so seriously?
I sat down, looking for a passer-by who was to caught up in his own meager and petty work to notice any magic I cast near them. Perhaps a log to trip upon? A bowl of water spilling on the new parchment just worked upon? Snakes from the wine they are drinking, that never tires...
But the god of mischief never played a prank that day. Instead of a innocent passer-by, he saw her. The blue eyes, the beautiful dark hair that reached to her back, the fair skin. When she spoke, her voice was beautiful, he could hear it from here- but no, it was not his love, not his Aurora. Her ghost! In fact, he had met this woman, the ghost of Aurora before- they where friends(perhaps a bit more than friends, Thor had suggested) as children, before...
What if she did not... No, it was not worth seeing her. He had Ljota, he needed no one else. But...
He changed his form from a guard back to the Loki everyone knew and hated. He strode over to her- lucky that she happened to be in a corner.
"Sigyn," he said, his voice smooth as honey, his smile wide. She whipped her head around. Her eyes where wide as she took him in. The same Loki- the same, black haired, green clothed, mischievous Loki that she had loved in her younger days. But not the same Loki- he was changed, his heart darker than ever before. He had done so much to Midgard, so much to threaten Asgard, without ever an explanation? And he just strolls on back after a solid decade?
Sigyn walked closer, and Loki put his hands out, expecting an embrace, but he was wrong.
The next minute, he felt his face stinging. Twice. Both sides of the face, she had slapped, flat palm, with all of her might.
"LOKI ODINSON!"
"Sigyn! Shh, I am not supposed to be-"
"Or is it Laufeyson now? I do not care what you call yourself. If you think you shall get any sympathy from me, Frost Giant, then you are much mistaken! How-" suddenly, her mouth was muffled. He had placed his hand over her lips so she would stop talking. Loki didn't want people knowing where he was. She was struggling against him, but he pressed firmer, his eyes angry, yet sad at the same time. He knew this would happen. Yet, as he had said, satisfaction was not in his nature. He wasn't giving up.
"Sigyn," he whispered. "A word?" he said, still smiling. He transformed himself into Sif, and led her to the Palace. She went, and though angry, she was still curious.
"Your chambers? How dare you-"
"Oh, Sigyn, always so suspicious! I've nowhere else to speak with you, unless you want to be seen in public with a traitor?" Loki said, still smiling. Sigyn stared eye-to-eye with him.
"Fine. But do not expect any mercy or pity from me, Loki. You have broken my trust," she said, quietly, then walked in.
"What else, Sigyn?"
They sat, and she demanded a story straight off. He was unwilling to say anything at first, but he ended up spilling everything. Even through the evil, Sigyn still felt pity for Loki, against her word. He wasn't even trying to manipulate her this time.
"And you stayed on Midgard..."
"No one would speak to me on Asgard. What would you have done, I ask you, Sigyn?"
"You could have sought me out, Loki! You always did-"
"I was afraid this would happen. I could- would not face it," he said, standing and pacing now. Sigyn knew he was uncomfortable. He did that as a child too- that brain, always moving, that heart, never content.
"You fell in love with a Midgardian?" she asked quietly. Loki did not respond, but he stopped pacing. With no emotion, he said, "Yes."
"And you had a child. She attends the school." Loki said nothing again, and Sigyn stood.
"You are just like the rest of them!" Loki said, angry again. "Taking into judgment everything I do. You may leave," he said, leading her to the door.
"No, no, Loki!" she pleaded, grasping at his arm. He paused, angry, jaw set, staring at her.
"Loki, I do not judge you! I was merely trying to understand. I would not judge you for such a thing! You where trying to change!" His eyes, welled up with tears of anger and sadness, but, as always, he did his best to gulp them down. Sigyn, at that moment, embraced him. He didn't know what to do- he had only given small, fatherly hugs over the past six years, and those rather short. He figured it out in the end, and was hugging Sigyn tightly, letting a few tears drop.
"You can always come to me," she said.
"That's why I went to her," he muttered. She looked up at him- she was much shorter.
"She reminded me of you, Sigyn, obviously." He let her go, and backed up. "But I'm afraid you are wrong. No one will allow us to continue companionship of any sort," he said.
"No. Loki ,we'll find a way, even if you must disguise yourself, I do not care-"
"How do you think that makes me feel?" he said, louder now.
"I- I am sorry. I did not mean-"
"Sh." Loki said. Sigyn looked behind her- on his chamber door, a small, but clear vein of ice started to grow, to spiral around the post slightly, then stop all of a sudden. Loki closed his eyes- he could not believe his daughter had heard that whole thing. "Ljota, come in."
Ljota
The conversation was getting heated. Vater, speaking of his past, of her mother? Ljota was trying to hide tears, she was. Who was this Sigyn? Of course she was trying to help,but Ljota was always suspicious. She leaned against the wall, her hand on the chamber door to clutch onto ANYTHING to stop from making a sound.
"How do you think that makes me feel?" she heard. Vater was getting annoyed again, poor father. If only mother was alive-
Suddenly, she noticed, too late, that her ice was starting again. She heard it crackle onto the wood of the door, and turned around in time to see it snake around, even when she moved her hand away.
"Ljota, come in," she heard her father say. She was so dead.
She walked in, book in hand, head down, tears in eyes.
"I am sorry, Vater.I was just curious, I did not mean to offend you!" she said, trying to restrain her voice. But Loki didn't care about her rudeness as he would have- he noticed her green dress was dirty near the bottom of the skirt, her beautiful hair was a little askew, her book from Midgard dirty, her other books missing. He rushed forward, and looked to her, eye- to-eye, lifting her head, forgetting Sigyn for a moment.
"What happened, Ljota?" he asked, concerned, and angry at the idiots who dared touch his daughter.
"Theymadefunofme!" she stammered, crying full-out now, becoming the six year old she was. He lifted her, and placed her on the bed, giving Sigyn a "one second" look.
"What happened?" he asked again, stroking her hair as she explained after she calmed down.
Sigyn had brought some water, and a cloth to clean Ljota up.
"They where talking about the Nine Realms in school, and they where speaking of the Jotunheim, and they asked about the leader of the Jotun, and I answered 'Laufey', and the other children started to call you a traitor!" she said, with angry sniffles. Loki was going to have a talk with the teacher, he said in his mind. Several things would conveniently go missing, he also thought.
"But that's not all, Ljota, something else happened to your books. Did some fools take them and bully you further?" She nodded, and explained after some prompting. She was crying again.
"They called me a monster! I... I froze a boy's skin!" she cried into her father's shirt. Loki was holding her now. He usually didn't know how to handle her emotions, but right now, he did. He was always getting bullied as a child- he was now doing what Frigga did for him. He held her, and rocked back and forth, trying to muster words of comfort that he wished where given to him recently.
"No. Shh...Quite, Ljota, quiet. You are not a monster. You are not. You have powers, you are special, and they will never understand that, because they are fools,but you are not a monster. You will always be my little light, Ljota. You and me, remember?" he said, kissing her head, and she calmed down.
"But Vater, the boy's hand-"
"Did you do it on purpose?" Sigyn said now, knowing Loki would say something a bit not politically correct.
"No," she said, sniffing. Loki gave Sigyn a thankful look.
"Well, then it's fine. You where defending yourself- you hadn't any idea you could do such a thing! Listen to your father, Ljota- you are not a monster. You are exactly what you wish to be. If you wish to be good, then you use your magic for helping people. Right?" Sigyn said. Loki had a suspicion that the woman wasn't just speaking to the child.
Ljota nodded, and smiled.
"So... I can... help people?"
"Of course, if you wish," Loki said.
"Vater, teach me how to use magic, pleaaaaase!" Ljota said, happy now. Without missing a beat, Loki said,
"Of course. I shall teach you how to do anything you wish, my little light."